Folding table



Mb, E, i930. w. s. BELLOWS 747592' FOLDING TABLE Filed Maron 5, 1925 4 sneetswsheet 1 Fb. E, H930, w. s. BELLQWS 39747592 FOLDING TABLEy Filed March 5| 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /a /a/ am' /fe/ ,fx

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W. S. BELLOWS l FOLDING TABLE Fiied Maron 5. `1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FOLDING TABL 4 Sheets--Shee'd 4 Filed March 5. 1925 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb.I 18, 1930 'WAVRREN S. BELLWS, OF EAST OBANGE,'NEW JERSEY nomme TABLE Application ledvlarch 5, 1925. Serial N'o. 13,089.

Thisinventionelates to folding tables for domestic use, as well as for use in hotels, restaurants, business oiices', and other laces where an article' of this kind may e in Bdemand. .f

It is an object of this invention to provide a folding table which can beeasily and cheaply constructed from a small number of" easily 'formed parts and which will have all the rigidity and strength of the non-folding present-day tables.

A particular object of the invention-1s to provide a foldingtable inwhich the legs are bracedl in two directions substantially parallel with the rim of the table and in which said braces fold with the legs to folded or np'- right position. v Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table of the type described, in which the legs and braces are supported from the rim of the table, thereby permitting the 4use of relatively light and cheap material in the top of the table without sacrificing the strength or rigidity of the table.

Another object of the invention is to `provi'dea folding table in which the legs may be formed of or-dinary angle-ironconstruction and in which, when folded, the legbraces are enclosed between the angle of the leg'and tu the top of the table. A Y

' Another object of the invention'is to pro-l vide a folding table with support braces extending diagonally across each corner and joining the rim of the table along each side,

said support braces providing means for supporting the leg braces and increasing the strength and rigidity of the rim and legs of the table regardless of the strength or construction of the table top.

-LJ Various other objects and advantages will appear as 'the description of the invention proceeds.

Referring now to the draw-ings, which illustrate several preferred forms of embodiment of the invention,-

Fig. 1 is a bottom plankview, partially in section, showing the folding table with the legs thereof in both folded and unfolded position; j Fig-2 is a sectional view on the line 2.-2

position;

A the le s Figure 16 is a detail View of a modified of Fi 1, showing the leg and braces in unfolde C,position 'and showing the position these braces assume when the legis being folded toward the table top; i

' Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 55 of Fig. 1, showing one of the legs' in unfolded Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail bottom plan View of one corner of the table;

Fig. l5 is a detail view illustratin lhow the 60 legvis pivoted to the rim of the tab e;

ig. 6' is a sectional view on vthe line 6-6 of Fig. 1, illustrating how the leg folds into contact with the rim and top of the table and covers the braces; 65

Fig. 7 is a broken plan View of a modilied form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 7'

Fig. `9 1s a sectional view-on the line 9-.9 7 of Fig. 7 j Figure 10 is a viewof a modified form of the invention; Y

Figurell is a detail view showin one of on the line 8-8- in un olded or upright position;

Figure 12 is a sectional view on -the line 12-12 of Figure 11; i

Figure 13 is a detail view of a modication of the angle iron legs;

Figures 14 and 15 are sectional views on' linesl-lll and 15-15, respectively, of Figure i form of angle iron le In the preferred fgorm of embodiment of the invention the table comprises a rim 1 of comparatively strong and rigid material which maybe of wood or metal. The top 2 is supported on the rim 1, and in each corner ofthe rim, a brace support 3 extendsdia onally from .one side of the rim to the ot er and is turned up at 3a on each end, and the portion 3a secured to the rim 1 by means of screws, rivets, welding, or the like 4. At each corner of the rim 1 a bracket 5 is secured and inside these brackets, the angle iron legs 6 of the table are pivoted by means of a pivot bolt 7 ,which extends through the rim 1- of the table and through one side of the m0 and braces illustrated inFigure 10 75A angle iron leg6 so as to permit the leg to be turned 'ound the pivot 7 from upright to folded position. The brace 3 has struck out therefrom a pair of ears 8 and 8a which are located in linewith the leg and in planes substantially at right angles to each other.v The brace 9 extends from the ear 8a parallel to the adjacent rim 1 of the table to the leg 6 Where it is bent slightly into an ear 9c extending lor a short distance along the leg, and is joined to the leg by means of a suitable rivet 9a. The rivet'9", which joins the brace 9 to the ear 8, is in line with the pivot bolt 7 which secures the leg to the rim of the table and permits the brace 9 to turn around rivet 9b when the leg 6 is turned around the pivot bolt 7. The rivet 9a also secures one end of the led 10n of the jack knifebrace 10 to the leg of the table While the other end of the leg l()b of this brace is pivoted to the ear 8 of the support brace 8, the end of the leg 10a being spaced from the leg 6 by the ear 9c. The legs -10 and 1()n of the jack knife brace 10 are pivoted together by means of a rivet 11 which is located so as to permit proper folding of the' legs and braces. The lug 10c prevents the brace 10 from collapsing in- -wardly when the leg is moved to unfolded or upright position, Aand a hole 10d and pin lOeserves to lock the parts of the brace 10 in unfolded position to`- prevent collapse thereof. The location of the rivet 11 permits the leg 6, when the jack knife brace is broken, to fold inwardly toward the table top, the two legs 10a and 10b of the brace folding alongside each other, as illustrated in Figure 1, and the ear 9' brings the brace 9 slightly nearer to the corner of the table at which the leg is pivoted than the ear 8 and the brace 9 folding with the leg, folds inside the ear 8 thereby permitting the leg 6 to fold flush with 'the bottom of vthe rim 1 of the table, with the braces, ears, supports and other securing means between the upper angle of the angle iron leg 6 and the table top. The ears 3a of the support 3 and the angle iron brackets 5 space the legs 6 away from the rim of the table so as to permit free folding of the leg. When in unfolded position, the braces 9 and ,10 extend substantially parallel with the adjacent rims of the table, and brace vthe legs in a direction at right angles to each other so las to form a very rigid table supporting construction, while the diagonal braces 3 extend from rim to rim forming a very rigid rim structure, regardless of the strength of the material of which the top 2 is formed. This rigid leg and rim structure may advantageously be used with the detachable tops described in my co-pending application Serial No. 719,514 filed June 12, 1924 if so desired.

At the same time these braces fold with thelegs into the space between the outer edge of the legs and the top of the table so that they do not increase the thickness of the folded table, and only one operation is necessary to simultaneously fold and unfold both the legs and the braces.

In the form of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9, the leg 20 of the table is preferably of square cross section and may be formed from wood or from tubular metal or other suitable material. The leg is spaced from the corner of the meetiug edges of the rim 1 and is spaced from the portion of the rim 1 towhich it is pivotally secured by the bolt 2l by means of a spacing washer 21a. The supporting braces 22 which support thc leg braces 23 and 24, extend diagonally across each corner of the table and are connected asby means of screws 22B to the rim ofthe table. struck up from the supporting brace 22 so as 'to lie in planes substantially at right angles to each other, and the folding brace 23 is piv- Ears 23 and 24* are oted to the ear 23, while the-jack knife brace 24 is pivoted to the ear 24, so that each of Y these braces extendsl at substantially right angles to the other and brace the leg 20 in two directions, while at the same time permitting the leg and the braces to be folded into the space formed by the table top and the rim when the table is not in use. The jack'knife' brace is similar to that illustrated and described in Figs. 1 to 6, and operates in substantially the same way.

The spacing of the legs 20.from the corner i i of the table in this embodiment of the inven-4 tion along the rim of-the table. vThe legs c 6a are pivoted to the table by means of a pivot bolt 7a which extends through one side of the leg and through a spacing block 12, and is secured at the other end in a bracket 12 which is secured to both the top and rim of the table. A V-shaped brace 13 has each leg thereof pivoted at 13a to bracket 3" secured to the' rim of the table so that when the brace isin unfolded position, each of the legs 13b and -13c extend substantially parallel with the adjacent rim of the table, and brace the leg 6a in two directions which are substantially at right angles to each other. The apex -or ends 14 of the braces 13 are bent as illustrated the brace and leg in unfolded or upright position. The le s 6 are provided with a pair of spaced eyes 1 which fit into the angle of the leg, and, in unfolded position, are in alignment with the opening 15EL in the clamping member 15 and between which the clamping member is received, so that, when the pin 16 is pushed through these aligned openings, the brace and leg are securely locked in unfolded position, with the legs, of the brace extending at substantially right angles to.

each other. The end of the angle iron legs 6 or 6 is preferably closed by means of a section 6b which is formed from one side of the leg 6 and folded over t0 form a smooth bottom 6c for the leg, which may have a suitable coaster or skid 18 applied thereto to prevent injury to the oor or floor covering upon which the table may be used. Spring clips 13 secured to the top 2 of the table hold the braces 13 in folded position when not in use. lf desired the braces 13 may be pivoted to supports which extend diagonally across the corner of the table as do the braces 3. Figure 13 shows a light angle iron leg 6d reinforced with a wood filler 6, giving light weight and strength to the leg.

For extremely long tables it may be desirable to provide additional legs at about the midpoint of the sides oi the table and in the form of embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10, this may he done by providing a bracket 12b at about the midpoint ci the rim 1a to which the leg 6d maybe pivoted, so as to swing to either side parallel to the rim of the table. Braces 13d, similar to braces 13, may bepivoted to the table top so as to fold flat therewith when not in use.

Figure 16 shows a modified form of angle iron leg 19 in which one side of the angle `19a is cut away at each end and the other side 19b is curled around to form circles 19 the circle at one end being adapted to embrace the spacing member 12 and to turn on the spacing member as a pivot, while the circle member 19 at the other end presents a rounded and` smooth base upon which the leg? may rest on the door.

In compliance with the atent statutes, l have illustrated and descri ed several forms of embodiment of my invention, but itis to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in the embodiments oi the invention herein disclosed without deleg braces extending between `parting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. ln la folding table lof the type described a table top, a rim, rim bracing members extending from one side of said rim to the other, legs pivot'ably supported from said rim and the legs and bracing members and pivoted to said leg bracing members, one of said leg braces being collapsible tozpermit said legs and leg braces of said -rleg bracesibeing centrally` ivoted,

s'aidlegsand leg braces being olda le to'ia position substantially parallel with-the table In aiolding table ott-he type described, a table'top,\a rim around saidtop, bracing members" extending diagonally across the cornersoit` said table between adjacent sides of said rim, :legs pivoted to said rim, af pair oflegtbracesvpivoted"to each. oli saidbracing membersand-conn'ected to saidy legs and bracing the same in-two directions substantially parallel with the sides of said rim, one of` said leg braces being foldable with the legs to a position substantially parallel to the table top. 4. In a members extending diagonally across the corners of said table between adjacent sides of said rim, angle iron legs pivoted to said rim,

a pair of leg braces pivoted to each of said, Y y

bracing members and connected to said angle;

folding table of the type described,

a table top, a rim around said top7 bracing;s

said rim and said leg braces being foldable with the legs to a position between one angle of the legs and the table top.

5. ln a rectangular folding table, a rim, an angle iron leg pivoted to the rim at each corner, a `supporting brace extending diago-L nally across each corner and connected to the rim at each end, a leg brace pivoted at one end on said supporting brace in alignment with said leg pivot and connected aty,`

the other end to said leg, a second leg `brace pivoted at one endto said leg and at the other end to said supporting brace and extending substantially perpendicular to said iirst leg brace said second brace being` collapsible soapy that both leg braces told with the leg to folded or unfolded position.

6. In a rectangular folding table, a rim, angle brackets at each corner of said rim, an

angle iron leg pivoted to the rim in eachiyfl bracket, a supporting brace extending diagonally across each corner and connected to the rim at each end, a leg brace pivoted on one end on said supporting brace in alignment other end to the inside of said leg, a ,jacklwith said vleg pivot and connectedat the 'j brace pivoted to the leg at one end knife le ie other end to said supporting brace and at t e and lying in a plane substantiall perpen- .lapsible so that both l dicular to the plane of said first eg brace, said second brace being collapsible:V so that both leg braces fold with the leg.

7. In a rectangular foldin table, a rim,- an angle iron leg pivoted to t e rim at each corner, a supporting brace extending diagonally across each corner and connected to the rim at each end, a leg brace pivoted at one end on said supporting brace in alignment with said leg pivot and connected at the other end to said leg inside the angle thereof, a. second leg brace pivoted at one end to said leg inside the angle thereof, and at the c other end to said supporting brace and extending substantially perpendicular to' said first leg brace said second brace being colleg to folded or unfol ed position.

`In testimon whereof I have axed my signature to t is cication. el

' WA EN S. BELLOWS.

braces fold with the 

